For me, one of the most special parts of the holiday season is delivering presents to friends. I wrap each package in a red ribbon, load them into my sled (aka Volvo), and make the rounds, surprising my friends with a little holiday spirit. My love language is baking, so naturally I deliver gifts of homemade food to my loved ones. A surefire benefit of baked gifts like this is that most of my go-to recipes can easily be doubled or tripled for larger quantities, so you only need to spend a day preparing them.
The perfect homemade food gift to share this holiday
From traditional holiday sweets (anyone miss those old fudge tins?) to the most adorable mini-bundt cakes, these homemade food gifts are sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face. Scroll through to pick your favorites and let us know what you’ll be baking this year.
Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Bark
This winter white chocolate bark is studded with snowy coconut flakes, dried cranberries, and salted pistachios for a festive treat that hits the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Perfect for Christmas gifts. Easy to make in bulk and beautifully packaged in glassine bags, they’re a deliciously decadent way to spread seasonal delights.
cranberry orange muffins
When it comes to baking, incorporating fruit is a great way to add a burst of flavor without using anything artificial. Filled with a little orange zest and fresh (or frozen!) cranberries, these muffins are delicious and the perfect gift for a festive breakfast or snack.
Chai spice soba granola
Granola is a versatile ingredient to have on hand for the holidays. You can add it to yogurt, eat it as cereal, or munch it straight from the bowl. Infused with warm chai spices and nuts like cashews and almonds, this granola is a homemade recipe that will last for generations.
vegan orange gingerbread cookies
Who wouldn’t be happy to receive a cute gingerbread man? Not only are these cookies decorative and festive, they’re 10 times tastier than store-bought ones.
chocolate peppermint snowball cookies
If you’re a big peppermint fan too, these snowball cookies are a must-have recipe this winter. A party-type dessert that you can enjoy in your mouth, with a melting chocolate center and a chewy outside.
grain-free granola
Whether you’re baking for your girlfriend’s friends or for yourself, this granola recipe meets all your requirements for the perfect sweet breakfast. It’s perfect for topping something on top of something without making you hungry, like chai spice granola.
Linzer cookies with winter citrus curd
There’s so much we love about this Linzer cookie recipe that Elizabeth Ho shared with our team. When making citrus curd, the world is your oyster. Ho includes several variations of her favorite cards, including lavender and strawberry and orange blossom and pistachio.
lemon rosemary cookies
These Lemon Rosemary Cookies are all about simplicity. An evolution of the classic shortbread, this bread is topped with a simple powdered sugar and lemon juice glaze, making it an easy-to-share yet impressive homemade food gift. .
toasted marshmallow hot chocolate cookies
Everyone’s favorite Holiday Bev (sorry, apple cider) meets warm, chewy cookies. What could be more delicious? Of course, the addition of a soft creamy marshmallow center makes every bite feel festive.
ginger molasses cookies
Ginger is a flavor that is often avoided during the holidays, but I feel that it is undervalued. This elevated gingersnap recipe transforms the seasonal flavor we all know and love into cookies with the perfect chewy glaze.
Slice and bake white chocolate with orange, cranberry, pistachio and cardamom
When making holiday desserts in bulk, it can be tempting to cut corners. It’s not great advice, but if it gives you the easy and light result of slicing and baking cookies, I can’t say no.
chocolate chip tahini shortbread cookies
Sweet and flavorful chocolate chip tahini cookies were born. These make the perfect homemade food gift thanks to their unique flavor (unfortunately, basic chocolate chip cookies get stale).
Homemade Funfetti Holiday Marshmallows
If you’re tired of making (and receiving) cookies, these marshmallows are cute and a great way to mix things up.
chai chocolate dipped christmas cookies
Everyone loves receiving a tin of shortbread cookies, but your recipient will be even more grateful if they receive a box of these chai-spiced biscuits. These go a little off course (in the best way possible) and opt for a quick dip in chocolate ganache. You can save the white royal icing drizzle for another sugar cookie. Everything about this recipe is Christmas cookie gold.
peppermint hot chocolate shortbread cookies
These cookies are so Christmassy. Chocolate shortbread coated with chocolate ganache and peppermint candy. Not only are these cookies super easy to bake on the spot, you can prepare the dough and store it in the freezer for your future self by slicing the cookies and baking them in the oven whenever you want. We can make your work even easier.
